HELP CENTRE

Am I allowed to take food into the EU with me?

Following Brexit, people travelling from Great Britain to the EU and EEA countries are unable to take certain food and plant products with them. 

  • You cannot take: meat or products containing meat; milk or dairy products; fresh fruit (apart from bananas, coconuts, dates, pineapples and durians)*; vegetables*; plants*; plant products*
     *unless you pay to have them inspected before you leave and get a ‘phytosanitary certificate’.

The rules will apply for food and drink for personal consumption (as opposed to commercially traded), whether carried in luggage, vehicles, or on their person.

There are some exceptions including: powdered infant milk, infant food, special foods or special processed pet feed required for medical reasons, confectionary and other items below a certain dairy threshold.

Banned products will need to be consumed or disposed of prior to or at the EU border. If passengers fail to dispose or declare their products, then the EU may enforce a fine or prosecute.

Additional guidance for passengers can be found through the Visit Europe government page

Find out more about personal food imports now that the UK has left the EU.

You may be checked for these products at EU entry points, any items carried with you that are deemed in breach of these rules will be confiscated and destroyed. Please ensure that you have consumed or disposed of any banned products listed or products containing these ingredients before you reach your EU entry point. This will avoid issues at border control and will ensure that you’re not contributing to unnecessary food waste.

Keep up to date on Brexit information via our Brexit hub.


Get in touch

We kindly ask that in order to gain answers to your travel queries quicker, please first consider using our Help Centre above or to find the latest sailing updates please visit our Twitter account @POferriesupdate. Our Help Centre also provides information regarding travel requirements, entry rules and testing information needed prior to your departure.

If you wish to speak to an advisor regarding your booking, any amendments or cancellations you can contact us via the methods below. We thank you for your co-operation and patience at this busy time.

Post

If you do prefer to contact us in writing, our postal adress is:

P&O Ferries
Channel House
Channel View Road
Dover
CT17 9TJ
UNITED KINGDOM

Email

Please send any questions or comments to: help@poferries.com or submit an enquiry.

Phone

Contact our call centre on 01304 44 88 88 between 08:00 and 20:00 Monday to Friday, and 09:00 and 17:00 on weekends.